The WNBC Time Machine Collection

On August 22, 1988, Michael DeMonti started recording WNBC Time Machine programs. Using a stereo AM tuner and a HI-FI VHS recorder, Michael recorded for six hours overnight, all night long, Midnight 'til 6AM, for ten days.

On May 18, 2003, REELRADIO started putting them online. Michael writes, "The sound quality is very good for AM but for some reason, it doesn't sound like stereo. These tapes were made in the weeks prior to the end of WNBC. "Two hours of talk programming were not included, but thanks to Michael for his contribution of 58 hours of WNBC overnight from August, 1988! These high-quality recordings of Big Apple Faux-40 from the late '80's are great listening. This is an extraordinary gift to the REELRADIO REPOSITORY and this page will be updated often. There will be some new early-hour airchecks of Don Imus, as well.

We agree with Michael that these are not AM Stereo recordings, but they are 10Khz (wideband) AM monaural recordings, and yes, the sound quality is very good!
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Jay Sorensen, WNBC NY Time Machine, 8-23-1988 12M-1A (0:59:39)
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Jay Sorensen, WNBC NY Time Machine, 8-23-1988 1-2AM (0:59:41)

… just ahead of much more mucus and The Dave Clark Five …
Almost a Beatles Twin-Spin, Flashback Playdate is 1966.
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Jay Sorensen, WNBC NY Time Machine, 8-23-1988 2-3AM (0:59:39)

… Take your love life somewhere else, don’t do it on my time …
Flashback Playdate 1963, Record Pig Question: What was really the first Monkees chart record? Jay explains the difference between mono records and stereo CDs.
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Jay Sorensen, WNBC NY Time Machine, 8-23-1988 3-4AM (0:59:46)

… Drop whatever you’re doing, or whoever you’re doing …
Lots of Monkees and lots of wrong answers to the Record Pig question of the previous hour. Flashback Playdate is 1970.
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Jay Sorensen, WNBC NY Time Machine, 8-23-1988 4-5AM (0:59:37)

… What is Radio City going to be called when we’re gone? …
Randy the Producer gets a lesson on interrupting jingles, the Flashback Playdate is 1967.
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Jay Sorensen, Don Imus, WNBC 8-23-1988, 5-6AM (1:03:04)

… from Worship World’s new adult films division, ‘Touch This’ …
Jay opens and closes Part Six of The Time Machine for August 23, 1988. The Playdate Flashback is from 1965. Charles McCord is featured with news. The sixth hour of these overnight WNBC archives contains an extra treat from Don Imus. Every quarter-hour counts! No slackin’ off for the I-Man between 5:30 and 6:00 AM. Bits include “George Harrison” and Billy Sol Hargis with The Last Temptation of Hargis. (Don Imus first appears at 35:45.)
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Jay Sorensen, WNBC Time Machine 8-24-1988 1AM-2AM (0:59:39)

… This is the only time you’ll ever hear two Bobby Sherman songs in the same half-hour …
The Record Pig question is Who discovered Bobby Sherman. The Playback is 1968 (Rascals, People Gotta Be Free) and enjoy the wacky old-time weather jingle at 41:32!
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Jay Sorensen, WNBC Time Machine 8-24-1988 12M-1AM (0:59:34)

… This is the only time you’ll ever hear two Bobby Sherman songs in the same half-hour …
The Record Pig question is Who discovered Bobby Sherman. The Playback is 1968 (Rascals, People Gotta Be Free) and enjoy the wacky old-time weather jingle at 41:32!
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Jay Sorensen, WNBC Time Machine 8-24-1988 2AM-3AM (0:59:41)

… This is the only time you’ll ever hear two Bobby Sherman songs in the same half-hour …
The Record Pig question is Who discovered Bobby Sherman. The Playback is 1968 (Rascals, People Gotta Be Free) and enjoy the wacky old-time weather jingle at 41:32!
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Jay Sorensen, WNBC Time Machine 8-24-1988, 3AM-4AM (0:59:39)

… This is the only time you’ll ever hear two Bobby Sherman songs in the same half-hour …
The Record Pig question is Who discovered Bobby Sherman. The Playback is 1968 (Rascals, People Gotta Be Free) and enjoy the wacky old-time weather jingle at 41:32!

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Welcome to the new ReelRadio!

This site is now operated by the North Carolina Broadcast History Museum. 

We want to thank the board of ReelRadio, Inc. for their stewardship since the passing of the founder Richard Irwin in 2018.  It has not been easy and they have maintained the exhibits for future generations to enjoy.

I met Richard Irwin, aka Uncle Ricky, when we were freshmen at East Carolina University.  We both had worked at local stations in our hometowns.  No one was more passionate about radio, especially Top 40 radio, than my friend Richard. 

Our goals with this site are to preserve the exhibits and make them available free of charge for people to enjoy.  Over time, we hope to add some airchecks to the site.  This will not happen immediately.  Time and resources will determine the future of new exhibits. 

Many thanks to the web folks at the Beasley Media Group for countless hours of work.  Again thanks to the board members of ReelRadio, Inc. for their faith in us. 

Richard Irwin’s hope was that his site would live on long after his passing. He said, “I hope REELRADIO will survive as my contribution to the ‘radio business’. The business is allowed to forget me, but the business should never forget the great era of radio that we celebrate here”.

We remember Richard and we thank him. If you enjoy this new site, we would appreciate a contribution. We hope you enjoy the new ReelRadio!

Board of NCBHP
North Carolina Broadcast History Project